The all-in-one suit

The jumpsuit – and its shorter counterpart, the playsuit – have staged something of a comeback over the past couple of years, erasing all memories of dodgy 80s boilersuits. Stella McCartney not only wears them but she has made them one of her catwalk staples, reinterpreting and updating them almost every season.

The high street has followed. This autumn, you'll be able to find the look in various guises from the fashion-oriented (one-shouldered, sleeveless, drop crotch) to the more casual (Diesel has a lovely belted denim jumpsuit).

Most interesting though is that, in keeping with Yves Saint Laurent's autumn catwalk of grown-up tailored power dressing – which included jumpsuits – many brands are offering the look from a much more workwear-friendly perspective. Marks & Spencer emphasises on its website that its black, V-neck, belted jumpsuit is ideal for work or smart occasions.

Anna Power, a digital manager for Sony, is a fan. She's been wearing the look for more than a year and owns at least 10. "They're so easy to wear," she says. "One item and you're done." Her most recent purchase was a black ASOS version – note: ASOS has a massive selection of styles – with the season's on-trend strong shoulder. Emma Elwick of Vogue also likes the "don't have to think about them" factor. She owns several, including a floral Topshop romper number, which she wears with plaid and black boots, or a three-quarter length grey flannel YSL version which, for a smart daytime look, she'll wear with a shirt underneath. For the evening, she'll add a vintage brooch and evening heels.

On many catwalks, including Chloé and Hermès, jumpsuits were worn with minimal styling, emphasising their "blank canvas" nature – they're a pre-arranged outfit, predominantly in one hue, that if you're not a natural minimalist can take lots of different accessories. This also means they become one of the simplest day-to-night options during party season.

For jumpsuit virgins, Elwick suggests: "Think of it as your favourite 24/7 dress. Stacked boots, ribbed tights or long johns for day. Statement jewellery and pencil thin heels for night."

Undressing in the loo is, perhaps, their only drawback, as Power admits. She concedes that "they can be quite tricky to manoeuvre and get in and out of". Our advice?

1. Practise the getting in and out malarkey in your loo at home before wearing in the real world.